Friends of Beckett Street Cemetery

Uncovering histories, caring for the cemetery, shaping future legacies.

History

Beckett Street Cemetery, also referred to as Burmantofts Cemetery, is a historic burial ground located in Burmantofts, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Established in 1842 and officially inaugurated in 1845, it holds significance as one of England's earliest municipal cemeteries, with Hunslet Cemetery in Leeds opening just a month prior. While no longer accepting interments since 2001, the cemetery welcomes visitors and boasts two listed structures in addition to its own designation as a listed park.

The establishment of the site was sanctioned under the Leeds Burial Act of 1842, initially encompassing 10 acres, with the first burial occurring on 14 August 1845. The land, procured from William Beckett, a Member of Parliament for Leeds in 1841, was complemented by additional land offered by his neighbour Griffith Wright Junior, editor of the Leeds Intelligencer. Wright Junior, foreseeing a potential decline in property value due to the cemetery's presence, made his land available for sale. The inaugural burial, that of a child, was overseen by Jabez Tunnicliff, a prominent Baptist minister active in Temperance movements. Interestingly, Tunnicliff himself would eventually be laid to rest in the cemetery around twenty years later.

Late 20th Century

As burial practices and attitudes towards death evolved, Beckett Street Cemetery fell into disrepair and became overgrown. However, in recent years, efforts have been made to restore and preserve the cemetery's heritage.

Faced with heavy upkeep costs, declining income and increasing vandalism, the Municipal Services Committee decided in 1984 to close the Cemetery, clear away most of the memorials, and grass the site over. A campaign was started, led by Sylvia Barnard, and joined by local residents, relatives of the dead, ecologists and historians who united to oppose this plan, and in 1985 it was scrapped. It was agreed that the Friends of Beckett Street Cemetery, formed by Sylvia that year, would help and advise the officers of Leeds City Council in establishing a Management Plan which would ease maintenance and benefit wildlife in this heavily populated area.

Today

Beckett Street Cemetery stands as a testament to Leeds' history and heritage, offering visitors a glimpse into the city's past through its graves, monuments, and architectural features. It serves as both a place of remembrance for those laid to rest there and a valuable resource for researchers and genealogists interested in uncovering the stories of the people buried within its grounds.

 

By becoming part of the One-Place Studies Organisation, we are contributing to a wider movement dedicated to preserving and celebrating local history. Our research becomes part of a collective effort to document and understand the diverse social, cultural, and economic landscapes of communities around the world.

 

Back to Home Page

 


Webmaster Message

We strive to document all of our sources. If you have something to add, please let us know.